Inquiry launched into work of Building Safety Regulator

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, chaired by Baroness Taylor of Bolton, has launched an inquiry into building safety regulation, with a particular focus on the work of the Building Safety Regulator, which was established following the Building Safety Act 2022.

Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, the Government commissioned Dame Judith Hackitt to conduct an Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

The Review’s final report, published in 2018, recommended the establishment of a new regulatory framework focused on higher-risk residential buildings, managed by a new regulator with responsibility for the whole of a building’s safety. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was set up to act as this new regulator as part of the Building Safety Act 2022.

The BSR has been set up within the Health and Safety Executive and is responsible for setting standards for the design and construction of higher-risk buildings. Higher-risk buildings have been defined as buildings that are at least 18 metres in height or have at least seven storeys and contain at least two residential units. For lower-risk buildings, the BSR does not directly approve their construction but is responsible for regulating the building control bodies and inspectors that do hold this responsibility.

Concerns have been raised by some in the housing sector that delays in approvals by the BSR have slowed down the delivery of new buildings and homes.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton, Chair of the Industry and Regulators Committee, said: “The safety of residents in higher-risk buildings was at the heart of the Building Safety Regulator being set up in 2022.

“The Committee wants to hear from all stakeholders to find out if the BSR has the skills and resources required to ensure the safety of all buildings and its residents in the process of approving applications for high-rise buildings.

“This is crucial if the Government is going to achieve its manifesto target of building 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament.”

The Committee is seeking evidence from building industry specialists, housing associations, architects, resident groups, safety experts, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders on a number of questions, including:

• has the introduction of the BSR improved the safety of the buildings it is responsible for?
• does the Building Safety Regulator’s regulatory framework strike the right balance between providing a holistic, outcomes-based view of safety and ensuring that developers and building owners understand what they are required to do?
• what impacts could the framework have on the delivery of the Government’s housing targets?
• to what extent are delays in approvals for high-rise buildings down to the regulatory processes used by the BSR?
• are the BSR’s approval processes sufficiently clear and understandable to developers?
• does the BSR have access to the skilled staff necessary to carry out multidisciplinary assessments of safety?
• is the relationship between the BSR and building control authorities and inspectors working well?
• how does the Building Safety Regulator’s work relate to the regulation of construction products?
• how does the Building Safety Regulator’s regulatory framework compare to how building safety is assured in other countries and jurisdictions?